Left & right hands are mirrored from pinkie to thumb: ~ Sinful Colors (SC) Cinderella over My Lifesaver by Nicole by OPI with a *touch* of China Glaze (CG) Fairy Dust on the tips~ CG Spontaneous background with bunny in Sally Girl (SG) Pure, SC Pinkie Glitter, and that unmarked shimmery brown I have...~ Revlon Girly over Sally Hansen Heart of Stone~ Finger Paints Twisted over SG Orange (the smelly one from last spring)~ SG Over U and CG Fairy Dustover CG Lemon Fizz

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Oh my good gracious! I am so excited! I have long bemoaned the fact that I couldn't reply directly to the comments I'd get here, like I could - very easily - on LJ. I looked into it a long while ago, but it wasn't an option.

Well recently I saw a "Reply" link on someone else's blogspot comment, and decided today to figure out HOW! Lo & behold, Google has made it super easy with just a clickity-click to adjust a setting! BAM!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Here is our moon tonight... It was warm enough for me to try some shots with the new camera on the tripod,but too cold & cloudy for me to take the time to get the *perfect* shot. Still, I think it's beautiful...Click to embiggen...

I did some reading up on why the moon is called this, and learned it's because this is when the ground unfreezes and softens - and gets quite soggy around here - which brings the worms to the surface; thus, the Full Worm Moon. So as I have been thinking about these questions for the past 2 weeks, I thought of the worms stirring in their winter burrows, pushing up from beneath, and wondered what dreams of mine have been doing the same: slumbering for a long while and just now emerging as the ground around them thaws...

This morning, I leafed through my old calendars and magazines, and created this:

The page I chose was one from a Faeries calendar and featured one of my favorite images, "Spirit of the Night" by John Atkinson Grimshaw. I felt the image really represented the awakening of the world at this time of year, and I think the fairy does a good job of embodying the questions; as if she's waving her wand and looking down to see what's stirring beneath her, what dreams are emerging from below...

Then I found the poem in the upper left corner, by Dorothy Morrison, in a Witches' Daybook from years ago, and it just seemed to fit perfectly with the full moon, my dreams, and the upcoming month of 'April showers'...

I am the Rain, the Bringer of LifeI bring the moisture and ease all strifeI sooth the Earth -- I quench Her thirstI nudge the seeds gently awake so they burstInto full germination so they can sproutI cleanse the Earth within and withoutBut that isn't all; I give so much moreI cleanse the spirit from aura to coreI inspire and unblock creativity flowAnd bring physical energy to all I knowMine is true happiness and pure delightI bring the rainbow back in the Light

Next to the poem, top & centered on the page, are the words, "Today I found my DRIVE" which symbolizes not just the fact that I am dreaming of find the perfect new-to-us car ASAP, but also that I find the strength & determination in me to push through my fears and get motoring on the big dreams I have.

Below that and to the left, is the text, "I've created great JOY," with an image of a woman obviously joyful, and perhaps laughing, perhaps praying and thankful for the great joy she's created.

And the words on the right say, "I'm the Goddess of Ease" expresses my dream that all these other dreams come to me with ease, and that life is stress-less and worry-free! ^-^

The jeweled spider and web above those words represent one of my totems, the spider, who leads me to create. The beautiful hanging lamps represent finding & creating beauty within my home, something I've not done much of since moving here many years ago...

Above the words in this image (below "I've created great JOY") is the text, "Be Bold. Do it. Impress." And here you can just read, "I can push myself further. Shine." These are all reminders for me to do those things. Push past my fears. Be bold & daring. Do the things that scare me. Impress myself, and the people around me, with my incredible Shine. (And also a small reminder that the WeShine conference is not so far away!)

Then there is a photo of a desk: pencils and brushes in cups embody my art; the peonies, the messy abundance of beauty. Another photo in the bottom left corner is of a teacup full of jewelry & sparkly things, which suggests home (the teacup) being full of bright happy things, prosperous in both joy & money.

And in the final corner, spring flowers, a profusion of color, and such smells... -- I am so ready for them. -- And the words, "LOVE YOUR HOME" which I've not learned to do yet, despite living here for so long...

Don't forget to check in with Jamie Ridler and see all the other Full Moon Dreamboards... And if you've made a dreamboard too, share it!

I wish for a clear vision of how to get from here to there.There where my dreams are reality.There where there is more than enough money to live and be happy and healthy and comfortable.There where people buy my art on a regular basis and ask for more.There where dancing and playing and singing are part of every day.This is my wish for today.

You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt on your blog and then add a direct link to your post in the box [at the link] below. Support wishes by visiting other participants, leaving a comment saying “As (insert name) wishes for her/himself, so I wish for her/him also.” It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together.~ Jamie Ridler

Pass one French lesson on Duolingo and Memrise each every dayI've been slowing down on these, life's been busy and even though I've been working through a lesson every day, I've not been passing them even after 5 or 6 tries. But since you only get to make 3 mistakes before the lesson restarts, I figured I got through all the questions correctly at least once... LOL!

Create each dayBunnies! I'm about a week behind and haven't finished some, but I thought I'd post the ones I have completed...

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Pass one French lesson on Duolingo and Memrise each every dayThese lessons are most difficult to do. I keep making typos and mistakes over & over and since I haven't been able to get through the lessons without making at minimum 3 mistakes, I've been redoing them over & over til I am too frustrated to continue.

Create each dayThis is from last night, today's isn't quite finished...

Thursday, March 14, 2013

I have caught the illness that swept through the house last week. It seems like everyone got it and has had it forEVER, and now that they're healing up, it's my turn... -_- Bleh. I am behind on my creating, but up-to-date on my French, and catching up on the others...

Pass one French lesson on Duolingo and Memrise each every dayI actually made myself a notebook finally; so hopefully I retain more as I go along...

Create each dayHere are some completed recent rabbits! The first was started on the 7th:

Monday, March 11, 2013

Crazy weekend, and I feel really discombobulated, disorganized, and disconnected...

Since this is the beginning of the 2nd week, I should recap my weekly dares, and see how we did...

Make 4 phone calls, 2 scheduled, 2 random:Wow. Epic fail. None. Not one. Thanks to a comment left by acelightning, I've been ferreting out the reasons for my fears, but still need to push past them.

Apply for 4 job, 3 school districts, 1 other:Oh yes, another fail. I kept putting it off, and boom. Suddenly weekend of chaos and omg a new week! before I could blink it felt like... I believe I will need to go back to having a sort of a list telling me wha needs doing each day...

And my dailies....

Pass one French lesson on Duolingo and Memrise each every dayWow, I have no idea how I managed to do it, but I did! Two French lessons each day! o.O Got them done early in the morning Saturday, and Sunday night, half dead, it took me soooo many tries! Today took lots of tries too. I think it's best when I work in the morning, instead of waiting until the evening; also, I *really* should get out that notebook!

Create each dayOn Saturday night we were away from home babysitting the grandbabies until very late, and this little sketch was done with a squirmy little girl who did *not* want to go bed resting on my lap...

Saturday, March 09, 2013

The sun was wonderful today! And I did some cute sketches for my painted ornaments... ^-^ Here's the DAREs:

Pass one French lesson on Duolingo and Memrise each every dayTook me many times to get through my Duolingo today. Mostly I kept entering the spaces before the final letters of words then hitting enter before checking what I typed was right... :\ But still pronouns are a bit confusing.

Create each dayAgain nothing finished but my finger nails for the St. Patrick's Day Parade tomorrow. (I have no idea why it's a week before it SHOULD be; apparently the city of Syracuse, instead of containing the drunken debauchery to just one weekend, is allowing it to stretch for a whole 9 days... *insert-eye-roll*) However, I did work on the ornaments today...

Jacqueline took this photo in 2009 as we whizzed through the Holland Tunnel. I had crossed into Manhattan a few days earlier on the George Washington Bridge and spent a long, tense time waiting in traffic, and had a full blown panic attack on the way across. This was after a *much* longer drive than expected thanks to road construction on Route 81 through Pennsylvania. We were HOURS behind schedule and to say I was cranky would be an understatement.

So we took the tunnel home instead of any of the bridges. Traffic was still unbelievable to me, and speeding through this tunnel only increased the anxiety & fear that had been building in me since we started getting stuck in traffic on the way down. For the next few years, my anxiety about driving in unfamiliar places only grew; bridges, curvy roads, roads with cliffs or steep drops on one side... all led to a rising panic that was very difficult to control.

But as the only driver in the family, a family that liked to go on road trips, I learned to push through this fear and just do it. And the more I did it, and did it successfully (no accidents! LOL!), the easier it became. This is important because some day I need to be brave enough to drive an RV over the Rockies!

But right now, here in this moment, I wish to find that same brave inside of me, the brave that allowed me to whiz through the Holland Tunnel shaking in my seat, but DOING IT, and use it to put myself out there, connect to other people via the telephone and in person and even online (although that's not so terrifying), so I can be successful, supporting Jacqueline & the kids, making them feel safe and secure, sharing my art with the world, showing others that they can do it too...

You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt on your blog and then add a direct link to your post in the box [at the link] below. Support wishes by visiting other participants, leaving a comment saying “As (insert name) wishes for her/himself, so I wish for her/him also.” It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together.~ Jamie Ridler

This winter we've experienced a curious phenomenon in our bathroom. A phenomenon that some would not consider a sign from the universe, but rather a sign to call the Orkin man. However, here at Faerie Gardens, where we live in a 25-year-old drafty mobile home, we've become quite used to sharing our space with even the least desirable of Mother Nature's children.

In this instance, I'm talking about slugs. Not those giant scary looking things that destroy your lettuce and tomatoes; the slugs coming from under our tub are tiny, less than an inch long. (And yes, for all I know they *could* grow into those giant things that destroy your lettuce and tomatoes, but they're so tiny & cute!) They creep out a few inches on the linoleum, turn around, and head back underneath. I am sure they are alive & awake because our house is not well insulated, and it is warm enough under the trailer; and they come up and inside because it's even warmer in here. (That's also why we have ladybugs, stink bugs, wasps, flies, etc. inside in the early spring and fall.)

But still I can't help finding out what message these little slugs are sending me. Slugs and snails are related but snails are different in that they carry a shall, their home, right along with them, which offers them a safety that slugs do not have. Therefore their messages are not the same...

Slug teaches to smoothly move in your surroundings. He shows the art of pacing oneself and focusing on the goal along with determination, strength and persistence. He shows how to move in a slow and steady pace by grounding in attitudes and principles all the while taking small steps toward the goal. Slug teaches the power of letting go of what is not needed. Letting go of harmful thoughts, ideals and emotions, this is how to move forward! It is time to "leave it behind." He also teaches navigational abilities and agility in the dark, unknown and all that is hidden with confidence. Heightened sensitivity to vibrations, the ability to see with clarity and the tactics of reservation and withdrawal when needed. Slug will show when to move and times to rest. There is great power in this timing. Pay attention to your perceptions and senses along with your dreams for they will aid you in the direction you should be going. Slow down and enjoy the moment.

Slug seems very vulnerable, yet that vulnerability can be its strength and protection. Slug can curl itself up or make itself long and skinny to get into whatever space it needs at the time. Slug is a bit of a shapeshifter! Flexible and molding itself into the moment, sometimes disappearing into the woodwork if need be.

And at the same forum, this was quoted from VelvetDragon.com, but the original site is gone:

Slugs are gastropods and mollusks with a soft body and no shell, or only a rudimentary shell inside the body. The Slug spoken of here is the terrestrial slug, such as the banana slug or garden slug; not the Sea Slug, which would be looked at separately. Slugs are hermaphroditic, and the gender-neutral pronouns "sie" and "hir" will be used for this page.

Slug is a very "mystical" sort of Spirit Animal. While animals like mountain lion or raccoon are very earth-based, Slug has a more ethereal quality to hir teachings. Slug leaves trails that are iridescent... seemingly magical. These trails are often interpreted to be signs and totems left by Slug, and can be interpreted. Slug is a great communicator, both mundane and spiritual. Slug is nocturnal and has ties with the moon.

Slug Medicine is in its most primal basic form that of a healer. Not too long ago, Native Americans used to let Banana Slug crawl around in their mouths when they had a toothache, because Slug's mucous is an anesthetic. Slug's wisdom includes that of healing body, mind, and spirit, and represents the connections that must be healthy between these for overall well-being.

Slug can cling to glass, upside down, yet to the touch, the "slime" is slick and is used to rid hirself of gunk... like anything wet and sliming around in the leaves and dirt would collect. It just slides off of Slug (you can see it at the end of their tails sometimes). This is another part of Slug's wisdom -- letting go, or leaving behind the "junk" and garbage of life... rumors, bad feelings, stories, material ties, attachment and so on. Slug is of balance, represented by sticky mucous to help hir hold on when it is important -- a solid base -- versus slick slime to help hir shed the trivial things.

Slug is not very connected to the physical world. Slug may lose part of hir body during mating; this is for the continuation of the species and is not mourned (it does in fact help slugs in the long run). Slug sheds hirself of all material things. Sie eats on the move. Sie shelters wherever there may be shelter.

Slug's medicine also includes incredible strength. Particularly hidden strength. It may not seem like it, looking at that little squishy critter with no bones and only a rudimentary shell inside. But Slug is almost pure muscle. Sie moves by tiny ripples of those muscles. The foot muscles are the most evidence of this... you can see them moving watching a slug on a piece of glass, from underneath.

Slug also has the Wisdom of self-protection and hiding. Slug can pull hirself almost entirely under hir mantle, protecting most of hir vital organs. Sie protects hirself from predators in this way. Sie also protects hirself from the harsh sun and dryness by hiding under a stone or piece of wood or in a crack, emerging in the gentle night.

Part of Slug's teachings include simplicity. Slugs live simply (survival -- food/shelter/reproduction) and are simple organisms.

Also, Slug's wisdom is that of seeing the world of spirit and shadow -- seeing beyond the mundane and clairvoyance. Slug can't "see" in terms of shape and color. They see in pure light and shadow.

Slug has a great deal to teach us about gender and sexuality. Slug may be considered to be a combination of both male and female, or an independent gender. They can reproduce with any other Slug (and suffer no sexism!), and also by themselves if a suitable partner can't be found. Slug, like many other living things, challenges the duality of deity. Exceptionally fertile, many slugs lay hundreds of eggs at a time.

Also from the same forum (and verified in my own copy of the book) from Ted Andrews' Animal-Wise:

Keynote: Movement to the light; increasing fertility and divination.

The slug is a member of the snail family, but without the shell. They are essentially snails that have lost or almost lost their shells. The internal organs that are usually housed in the shell of a snail are packed into the body of a slug.

The slug is an ancient tool for divination, often considered sacred. It's slimy trail was guidance in life and in decisions. When placed within a flower, it's trail was the sacred writing of a future marriage partner. It is a symbol of the male seed, the origin of life, the silent slow tendency of darkness to move toward the light.

The slug is related to the yod in the Hebrew alphabet, both being very similar in shapes. In Qabalistic traditions, the letter yod stands for the occult faculty of touch and of the sexual union. It is shaped like the sacred seed. In the Qabalistic Tree of Life, the yod is associated with the path of the Hermit, the Wayshower or the Adept.

When the slug appears as a totem or messenger, we are opening to higher vision. A new path is opening: "This path (the Hermit Path) and its symbols and imagery place before us opportunities to become a new person. On a spiritual level this path stimulates a greater commitment to the spiritual life. We are setting energy in motion that proclaims to the universe, "I am ready to accept change in my life!" {From Ted Andrews book: More Simplified Magic.} The slug's appearance reminds us that we will soon recognize and realize the illumination that is always present within us.

Slugs vary in size and they live in damp places. Some live entirely underground. They are most active at night or after a daytime shower. They move through hydraulics. This means rather than moving through the work of muscles against joints, they move through the interaction of muscles and fluid movement. The body fluids contract the muscles, causing the slug to stretch and push. As it relaxes, it becomes smaller, until the fluid advances once more through the muscles. Remember that the slug moves slowly but steadily, a reminder there are no shortcuts.

For those to whom the slug is a totem or messenger, care of the body joints will often be important. Exercising in pools and in activities that are not hard on the joints will be most beneficial. On a spiritual level, the slug is a reminder that the Biblical phrase, "Ask and it shall be given..." is active within our life. The slug reminds us that if we know the proper way to ask, we will begin to manifest that which we need or desire.

In the slug is the deception of appearances. Most slugs feed near ground level, eating decaying plant matter and even some worms. Many are excellent climbers, and this unexpected ability is a reminder that we can often do much more than what we may have thought physically and spiritually possible. Let others think what they will and then let them be surprised at what you accomplish and the heights you reach. The slug reminds you the magic to do what you wish is already present in spite of what others might say.

Slugs are hermaphrodites, containing both male and female organs, but they do require interaction with other slugs. There is a two-way exchange of sperm between the mating pairs and the eggs are laid soon afterward. The eggs hatch almost a month later.

Hermaphrodites have both male and female sexual organs. Even though humans don't have both sets of organs, we are all a combination of male and female energies on other levels. Whenever the male and female are brought together on any level, a new birth results. When we do this within ourselves, we give birth to the Holy Child within. The slug reminds us that we are on the path to giving birth to our inner Holy Child.

Ask: Are you staying cloaked, afraid to come out and express your inner talents?

Ask: Are you trying to do too much too soon?

Ask: Are we not moving out on our own path?

Ask: Are we locked into the paths of others, rather than pursuing our own?

Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Pass one French lesson on Duolingo each dayWow. No errors at all today! -- Well ok, I was marked wrong for translating something with a conjunction; Duolingo doesn't like that. -- But still, I am pleased with myself... ^-^

Create each dayToday's creation took the form of editing several photos I took last week and adding text to get the word out about alternatives to live bunnies for your children's Easter basket. My favorite...

Many people buy rabbits at this time of year to give as Easter gifts to their children, but sadly, within a few short months, those bunnies are filling up the shelters, abandoned for a wide variety of reasons. Before buying your own children a rabbit, please consider the following facts and child-friendly alternatives...

1. Rabbits don't like be enclosed in cages for long periods of time and need lots of room to run, jump, stretch, and play.

A few weeks ago, a customer asked me to recreate a mermaid on a rock that had already sold; I told her I'd certainly be happy to try! Of course, finding a rock was probably the hardest part, as the lake shore is quite icy & snowy at the moment, but thankfully I have lots of rocks here at home! XD

The recreation is more detailed, but she has such a sweet face! What do you think?

Monday, March 04, 2013

So, for my own clarification, I want to review what each of my Dares are now in this new month... First, I need a clever little name; I think 22 is perfect! How about you? ^-^

Anyway, I have 2 DARES for the year:

12x12: Complete 12 pictures books in 12 months.
As I mentioned before, I have ideas for 7 books so far, but need to do a LOT of art, and come up with 5 more ideas!

Earn $1000/mo. by the end of the year.
Find a teaching job, an office job, sell more art...??? Still working out how to succeed at this one...

And 2 DARES for the month:

Try 4 things from my new books
I have some new books with new ideas to try out, and I'd like to do 4 this month.

Determine 4 steps to improve art sales and take them
I have a few resources I need to catch up on and they have some great ideas I'd like to implement; we'll start with 4 this month!

And 2 DARES to do each week:

Make 4 phone calls per week
This includes 2 calls to specific people with a set scheduled time and 2 other random calls, either from my handy jar of calls to make or regarding the applications I'll be completing as one of my other dares...

Complete 4 employment applications per week
Three each week to different school districts and one for other kinds of work.

And of course 2 daily DARES:

Pass 2 French lesson each day, one on Duolingo, one on Memrise...
I am doing great here still! I found a notebook yesterday after I did my lessons, but lost it again already! LOL! Next time I find it, it's going right here next to my keyboard! XD

Create each day
Tried something a little different today... Not sure if she's falling down the rabbit hole or reclining...

This will be my last Mosaic Monday Bunday for a while, folks. I can't get the Picasa Web Album to show me the images I am uploading without sharing them all to G+ and since I don't want use my G+ like that, I am forced to stop posting. I am frustrated to tears by this, and will continue to find another way around this, but until then, MMB is on hiatus.

Welcome back to another Mosaic Monday Bunday! I don't think I've ever actually done this -- I usually have a theme in mind -- but this time, I had no theme! So I took a trip through my faves and thought I'd share my favorite faves with you! ^o^

Saturday, March 02, 2013

So another month has gone by, and it is time to evaluate how the DAREs are working! I spent a long time yesterday, organizing my thoughts and writing out a long blog post, and I got very nearly done, then realized that I needed to completely overhaul how I was going about them! As much as I like the number 3, and the sense of balance it gives me - 3 tasks, 3 time frames, etc - I think I need to cut the DAREs down to TWO.

So let's just dive right in and I'll try to clear things up along the way...

First, my YEARLY DARES ... 2 months have passed and I've got no set plans to accomplish these and was feeling guilty and overwhelmed at that and not having even figured out what my third will be. So eliminating a third Big Dare to accomplish this year seems the right thing to do.

12x12 : 12 Picture books in 12 monthsI have seven book ideas, but lots of pictures need to be drawn, and what do I do after I've done that? I will have to find out!

Earn $1000/mo by the end of the year.Again, I have no plans on how to reach this goal. I've been selling my photos and art and creating more art, but I need to rev things up!

MONTHLY DARES ... February's Dares were rolled over from January, and I completed two of the three.

Contact a local school district I sub in to find out why they haven't been calling meDone. Still on list for subbing, just hasn't been much need. :\

Contact another district I used to sub in to see about getting calls from them againI contacted the personnel department and was told they weren't hiring new subs at the moment, but they'd have someone get back to me when they were. :\

By the end of the month send out subbing applications for more local districts.I broke this into several smaller tasks, but I think my goal was still too broad. I am going to carry this over to March, but make it more specific.

I'll get back to these Dares later...

DAILY DARES! Let's rearrange these...

Pass one French lesson on Duolingo each dayThis one has been going peachy keen. I still want to do more taking notes, but I think I am also going to add one lesson from a French course on memrise.com as well as the lessons on duolingo.com to speed things up. I feel like I'm just refreshing my memory and playing and I want to be learning...

Create a rabbit a dayThis month I fell behind near the end of the month and still haven't finished my rabbits for 2/21 or 2/24, but I am confident I will finish them before too long. However, I still think this Dare needs reevaluating as well. My original intent was just to create every day, but I made it be specifically a *rabbit* every day and on some days this has not been joyful. If I've already spent the day creating, I don't want to feel obligated to create some more; therefore this Dare is going to revert back to my original intent: Create one thing every day!

Make 7 phone calls per week16/28 calls were made this month. That's an average of 4 calls a week. Better than half, but it's not accomplishing my goal, which really isn't to make a call every day, but to become comfortable with using the phone.

Jacqueline and I talked about it, and she came up with some great ideas and I am going to implement them all! What she helped me figure out is that I need to take BABY STEPS. OMG yes, obviously I was putting too much pressure on myself to make a call. Every. Single. Day.

So first step, one hard phone call a week at a set time. Second, a jar of phone calls to make. (I'll tell you more about this later...) Not sure how I will work making those. I also may set more than one scheduled call per week, but we shall see.

This of course means that I'm dropping the calls from the Daily Dares, and creating two WEEKLY DARES!

But for now, I've written enough, and really need to get some sleep, so I'll play some more catch-up tomorrow afternoon when I have a chance...

Followers

Amazon Ads

While waiting for a friend at our local library, I stumbled across this series. Since their fantasy/sci-fi section was limited (and these weren't even in that section) I decided to pick up the first three books, thinking they'd be quick...